Buffy the Vampire Slayer Re-Watch: Reptile Boy (Season 2 Episode 5)

Buffy and Cordelia go to a frat party and are almost eaten by a snake demon monster on Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 2 Episode 5, “Reptile Boy.”

I must have watched this episode a thousand times after it first aired thanks to all the quality Buffy/Angel scenes. So, I was very interested to see how “Reptile Boy” would hold-up on a re-watch two *sob* decades later . . . The answer is pretty good.

The main plot is pretty predictable, especially for a teen show. A character makes a bad decision to go to a party involving alcohol and suffers consequences. This version includes the additional layer of the main character being a girl, which means it also implies her choice to be around both alcohol and older college boys results in her “virtue” being endangered.

To be honest, this trope was already pretty cliche at the time this episode first aired. However, while current television shows are often focused on creating gotcha! moments, Buffy the Vampire Slayer prefers to take overdone storylines like this head-on.

Episodes typically take these tropes, add in a vampire or demon, and either flip the script entirely or, as in this case, just tell really well-executed versions of familiar stories. Although there is nothing surprising in the content of “Reptile Boy,” the blend of humor and drama combined with perfectly realized characters makes for a very enjoyable hour.

Cordelia, in particular, makes many hilarious observations throughout. I never really noticed before this re-watch how well she works as a foil for the main Scooby gang in these early seasons.

Cordelia: Oh, Buffy! It’s like we’re sisters . . . with really different hair.

It is interesting that the crueler edge to Cordelia’s insults present in season 1 is completely gone by this point. Of course, her unfiltered honesty and lack of tack are still there which makes for some very funny lines as she tries to be nice to Buffy.

While Cordelia does not seem to take away any lasting lessons from her experience with a snake demon worshipping fraternity, this storyline does offer a strong arc for Buffy’s character. She is struggling with Giles’ high expectations, dealing with her angsty lurve for Angel, and just trying to be a normal teenager.

Giles and Angel are too self-absorbed to see Buffy is having a hard time, which leaves Willow to pour a pot of steaming hot truth tea on their hard heads in one of my favorite moments of Season 2.

Willow: . . . And you! You’re going to live forever but you don’t have time for a cup of coffee.

It’s also worth noting that no one really gets a pass in this episode. Buffy, Angel, Giles, and Xander all make mistakes and have to address and own up to them at the end. It’s kind of refreshing all of these characters get to be wrong at one point or another.

 

Things That Seem Problematic Now That I’m Older

The premise of this episode is just as relevant today as it was 20 years ago, which is a little disheartening. The show pretty obviously uses the threat of being eaten by a snake demon as both a small plot crinkle (not surprising enough to call it a twist) and as a stand-in for the danger of being drugged/assaulted at a party.

On the positive side, the bad guys are very clearly the demon cult frat boys who are drugging and kidnapping girls. There is no attempt to excuse or even downplay their evilness.

On the bad side, this is yet another example where the responsibility for avoiding these types of situations is placed squarely on women. Buffy and Cordelia make choices that put themselves in danger and both suffer for it. However, that message does not extend to any of the male characters.

In fact, although Giles understands and respects Buffy enough not to give her a big lecture at the end, he also does not tell her she has every right to go to a party without being worried she might be drugged and/or kidnapped.

Again, it’s girls who must learn not to drink or go to parties instead of boys learning they don’t have the right to, you know, drug and assault girls. I wish I could say this is Buffy the Vampire Slayer showing its age, but it wouldn’t be shocking to see current shows present this storyline in the exact same way today.

 

Delightful Moments I’d Forgotten About

Buffy beating up Giles in their “training” session.

Willow and Buffy talking about Buffy’s sexy Angel dream at The Bronze.

Cordelia’s instructions to Buffy about her hair and make-up for the frat party.

Cordelia throwing herself at Angel after Buffy kills the snake demon.

 

What did you think of this episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Buffy the Vampire Slayer is available for streaming on Hulu.

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